Local authorities may no longer be able to function if they lose control of care services to the Scottish Government, SNP ministers have been warned.
COSLA - which represents the interests of all 32 councils in Scotland - has estimated that as many as 75,000 staff could be transferred to new care boards if legislation published last month is backed by MSPs. The Scottish Government is pressing forward with plans to create a National Care Service, which would see industry bosses answer to Holyrood ministers instead of local authorities.
Health secretary Humza Yousaf said the plans would drive up standards across the sector and allow staff to enter collective bargaining agreements which could boost wages. But Scottish Labour has branded the bill as a "powergrab" that would strip more responsibilities from local councils.
COSLA today warned the Bill stands would have a significant impact on councils’ ability to deliver not only social care services but other critical services that our communities rely on.
Council chiefs from across the major parties held a meeting today at which it was agreed that services, staff and resources should remain the responsibility of locally elected members. There is a fear that the transfer of public protection duties from local authorities risks losing local expertise and knowledge.
While the NHS is publicly owned and free at the point of need, social care is provided by both private companies who follow local authority guidelines and councils themselves. This has created a patchwork system across the country with standards varying by region.
Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA health and social care spokesman, said: "All council leaders were in agreement that as it stands, the National Care Service bill with the power to transfer local authority functions, staff, property and liabilities to a National Care Service, poses a serious risk to councils’ ability to deliver a wide range of services for communities including non-social work and care services.
"Leaders were very clear that this approach would result in destabilising the local government workforce and potentially impacting on the sustainability of some councils to carry out their functions and responsibilities.
"COSLA is committed to the change, improvement and investment needed in our social care system and will continue to work with the Scottish Government and partners to better the experiences of both those using and delivering social care services now and in the near future and not wait until a National Care Service is in place.
"COSLA will seek further engagement with the Scottish Government in an attempt to ensure that there is no disruption to local services by ensuring that local authority staff remain in local authorities.”
Unison, the country's largest trade union, has previously warned the proposals from the will remove legal responsibility for social care from democratically elected councils in favour of quangos - with no attempt to remove the market or the profit motive from the sector.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The National Care Service is the most ambitious reform of public services in the devolution era. It will end the postcode lottery of care provision across Scotland and ensure those who need it have access to consistently high-quality care and support so they can live a full life, wherever they are.
"A key focus of the proposals is that services will be designed and delivered locally, including by local Care Boards, whilst ensuring Ministers are ultimately accountable.
"Locally-employed staff will continue to have an important role to play in commissioning and delivery and we will continue to work closely with local authorities, the workforce and unions to ensure that the impact on staff of any changes is fully considered.
"At the same time, will also work to improve the pay and terms and conditions for those who work in social care, embedding the fair work agenda to build a workforce that is fit for the future and delivers the best possible service for the people of Scotland."
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